Get a Job in Australia
The Australian job market is amongst the strongest in the world. Still, the process of finding employment in a foreign country is daunting. Never fear - read on for a step-by-step guide to finding a job "Down Under".
Steps
- Obtain a work visa. If you require a visa to work in Australia, submitting an application to the relevant embassy is your first priority. Prospective employers will ask about your immigration status and having your visa (or at least having started the application process) is a prerequisite for most job vacancies. Visa priority is given to people who have skills, qualifications and experience in shortage occupations.
- Verify that your qualifications are valid in Australia. Consult the Australian Skills Recognition Information website to determine whether you must have your qualifications checked by the relevant professional body. Depending on your profession and place of study, it may be necessary to complete a bridging course or additional study. When you apply for jobs, it will be important that you can state your qualifications in terms of their Australian equivalents.
- Target an industry or economic sector. If you haven’t decided the industry you’d like to work in, choose wisely. The major industries in Australia are agriculture, mining, tourism and manufacturing. The industries of highest recent growth are mining, financial services, tourism and telecommunications.
- Search methodically and diligently for job openings. It’s time to start searching for vacancies. Millions of vacancies are posted online.
- Some advertisements are not published online, so also check newspaper listings. Consult the job supplements in The Age (Melbourne), Sydney Morning Herald (Sydney), The Courier-Mail (Brisbane) and The West Australian (Perth).
- To learn about vacancies in a particular organization of interest, consult the recruitment section of its homepage.
- Consider alternatives. If you are a recent graduate, you may like to consider applying for a graduate scheme. These are generally advertised on the company website and at regional career fairs.
- “Aussiefy” your CV. It is important that your CV (also called a “résumé” in Australia) is in the Australian style.
- Take the time to write a tailored cover letter. State that you have been granted permission to work in Australia (or are in the process of applying). Provide an Australian postal address and telephone number in your CV if possible.
- Exploit your contacts. Around 70% of jobs aren’t advertised through the media, so personal contacts are key. Take advantage of networking opportunities and expand your networks through joining professional associations.If you establish a contact within a company, inform the contact when you make an application – it may get your CV to the top of the pile.
- Send your CV and a cover letter. Target every potential employer and recruitment agency in the region in which you plan to settle. Speculative ("cold") applications are common in Australia, so apply even if there’s no advertised vacancy.
- Follow up. If you do not receive a confirmation of your submission, contact the human resources department. Equally, don’t hesitate to contact the company if you have not received a response within a couple of weeks. This is common practice in Australia, and is not considered at all inappropriate (on the contrary, it demonstrates your enthusiasm).
- Plan to attend onsite interviews. If you are called for interview, try to be in Australia to attend in person. Very few employers will engage candidates on an unseen basis (though it is a good idea to suggest a Skype interview if it is not possible for you to be present). Remember to take copies of your work visa and references for employers to sight.
- Consider options. If you are not looking for a full-time position, another common option in Australia is work experience.
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Tips
- When it comes to interviews, research indicates that Australian employers value punctuality, optimism and the ability to provide concrete examples to illustrate a point. So be on time, upbeat and ready with examples!
- Don’t expect the same salary or more than you had overseas. Research the cost of living and work your financials before negotiating a salary or wage. (Don't forget to include taxes in your calculations)
- On average it takes eight weeks to secure a job, so start your job search early. However, it is possible to start too early. Do not apply more than 12 weeks before the date you would be able to start.
- Maximise your chance of getting a visa. If you do not qualify as a skilled migrant, you may encounter some difficulty obtaining a visa. If this is the case, consider undertaking a professional qualification or gaining some work experience before applying. If your English is not fluent, you may consider taking a language course with a recognized provider. It may also help to apply for settlement in a regional area where there is less job competition.
